Nominees Deny Iranian Report on Hostages

Special to the New York Times

Published: October 16, 1988

WASHINGTON, Oct. 15—
Representatives of Vice President Bush and Gov. Michael S. Dukakis today flatly denied the assertion made by an Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister that both Presidential candidates had asked Iran for help in releasing the American hostages held in Lebanon.

The Associated Press reported today that Hussein Sheikholeslam, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs, said at a news conference last Thursday in Dubai that the campaigns of Mr. Bush and Mr. Dukakis had made contact with Iran through third parties.

Mr. Sheikholeslam declined to divulge the identity of the intermediaries and said he did not want to get involved ''in the election games of the United States.''

In responding to questions today, the Bush and Dukakis campaigns dismissed the suggestion that they had made any contact with the Iranian Government. The Reagan Administration has acknowledged that it has indirectly communicated with Iran through other countries, but it has denied that it is participating in negotiations to secure the hostages' release.